HORRIBLE MUTINY ON BOARD THE U. S. BRIG SOMERS.—HANGING AT THE YARD ARM!

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 102, 21 July 1843, Page 4

HORRIBLE MUTINY ON BOARD THE U. S. BRIG SOMERS.—HANGING AT THE YARD ARM!

(From the New York Hei'ald.) This vessel arrived here on Wednesday, after her cruise on the coast of Africa, and the city is rife with rumours relative to an occurrence of a very painful nature which has taken place on board of her. Nothing official can of course transpire until we get authentic. information from Washington. We learn, however, that the crew of the Somers mutinied, being led on by one of the midshipmen. The plan of the mutiny was communicated to the commander, the details of which appear too horrid to be believed. We give them as we heard them. The mutineers were to have a scuffle on the forecastle in the night while the Captain and First Lieutenant were asleep. On the appearance of the latter to quell the disturbance he was to be seized and thrown overboard. They were then to murder the commander and the ward-rpom officers, with the exception of the surgeon—who was to be kept for their own use—and take possession of the vessel. After this they were to-capture the packets and other ships, murder all males, ravish the females, and then murder them, so that no Soul should be left to tell the tale of their horrible villany. For this purpose they were to rendezvous off New York. The Whole plan was in writing and copiously interlarded with Greek characters to prevent discovery, and the test oath of the mutineers was “Do you swear that you have no fear of shedding blood ?” Fortunately their plan was discovered through the instrumentality of one of the crew. The subject was laid before the officers, who had immediately convened at a drum head court martial, when ?it was decided that the safety of the vessel and the lives of all on board required immediate and exemplary punishment. The court decided that the midshipman and two of the ringleaders should be forthwith executed. They were accordingly hung at the yard-arm to strike 'terror to the hearts of the-crew. This strong and decided measure restored the command of the ship to the officers, and the obedience of the men. Philip Spencer was the name of the midshipman alluded to, who was hung, and the other two men, petty officers, a boatswain’s mate and a quarter-master. 'Spencer entered the service Nov. 20, 1841. The affair occurred in the Atlantic, six or eight days from St. Thomas’s, where the brig had touched for water and provisions on her return from the Coast of Africa. It was arranged to take her there, so that the mutineers would be fully provided with stores for their piratical cruise. ' Had the mutineers been successful, the seas would have become the scenes of outrage and blood unparalleled in the records of piratical crime. The Somers is the fastest sailing vessel in the service. She is new and completely equipped. The black flag has never been hoisted on board such a craft. If Spencer and his associates had succeeded in their diabolical attempt to gain possession of the brig, we know no limits which could have been assigned to their career of plunder and bloodshed. The selection of the packet ships as the special objects of attack, and the fearful doom ordained for their,passengers and crews, must awaken the most painful sensations. These desperadoes - might have successfully eluded detection or pursuit.for years. The depths of the ocean constitute -the most faithful depository of the fearful secrets of the murderer. America. —The enquiry into the circumstances of the mutiny on board the Somers, -when a midshipman, son of the Secretary at War, and two seamen, were hanged, which was sitting at Brocklyn (opposite New York) on board the North Carolina, was exciting the ; greatest interest. The court consisted of three of the oldest commanders in the American service, and of the Hon. -Ogden .Hoffman, the . Judge Advocate. The.three -days’ proceedings before the court are reported at considerable length in the New York papers, and possess considerable interest. The inquiry had not terminated on the 31st December. Africa. —Tidings from Algiers are far from satisfactory. A tribe which submits to France . is considered fair game for pillage by the independent tribes. Those who submit, therefore, claim protection. The French are obliged to -march to their aid ; and if the tribe be distant, tlie march is a perilous one. Thus General Cliangarnier, being called upon to protect some tribe or chiek beyond the little Atlas, was sur- . rounded and maltreated, and lost his best officers in a series, of encounters. Thus, the more, the .French extend their supremacy inland the;more onerous and difficult it is to support ;it. The last accounts show plainly enough the, reasons for General Beaugaud’s stating that it would require a standing army of no less than 80,000 French, fto keep Algiers. Fhe French ;,in the meantime, complain that the General ,has been egregiously duped by the Arabs."

It has come to our knowledge that ope of the Directors of the. Sydney Bank lia,d, some short time since, occasion to procure the discount of his own note for 8,0001. in order;to take a mortgage off the hands of a wealthy which bears 16 per cenL, par annum, interest, by which means he .trades with the money of the Bank at a clear profit of 6 per cent.; besides which he had to renew the said proimSsdry note at 12£ per cent.—Colonial Observer.

The Copper Mines at the Barrier, 11 -- We have received the following technical particulars of the Barrier Copper Mines : —" The copper mines at the Great Barrier consist of a number of lodes, or veins, running in an easterly and westerley direction, and which it is ascertained traverse the whole breadth, of the .island. The company, at present, owing to the delays and difficulties incident to a first settlement, have only been able to ejxaminq'two of the lodes, and that very partially. In these lodes, which they have penetrated not more than a few fathoms into the side of the hill, they found samples of the most valuable copper ore, consisting of the black oxide, grey and yellow ores, and the rare and valuable one termed copper nickle, used in the manufacture of German silver. In one of the lodes, specimens of a rich silver lead ore are abundantly mixed with the copper ore; also, native arsenic, and its oxides; together with such other mineral produots as are found in the richest silver and copper mines in South America; in fact, some of the richest silver and coppermines commenced with lead.